Air Raid shelters during the Second World War
DACHT : 62.12.3. Building air raid shelters between the John Dickinson Guildhouse and railway.
Picture: Dacorum Heritage Trust
This emitted a loud and distinctive sound that could be heard for several miles. As soon as they heard it, everybody in the local area was expected to make their way, as quickly as possible, to their nearest air raid shelter.
The best shelters were secure, underground bunkers (Londoners used the Underground railway stations), but many towns and villages had simple brick-built structures that offered only basic protection.
These were generally built in blocks to serve an entire local area and, where possible, were surrounded by banks of earth to deflect the blast.
These simple shelters were not expected to survive a direct hit by a heavy bomb, but offered a good degree of protection.
DACHT : 62.18a.12. An air raid siren. These could be heard over a wide local area and gave early warning of an imminent air raid.
Picture: Dacorum Heritage Trust
By the Dacorum Heritage Trust